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Golden Loopers for training tour in China
Accra, Feb 6, GNA – Golden Loopers, the National Table
Tennis Team will as part of their preparations towards the
impending All Africa Games scheduled for Algiers, Algeria
this year undertake an intensive three month training tour
to China.
The training tour is expected to commence in April and end
in May, after which the players will return to Ghana to
round up their preparations for the championships.
Ebo Bartels, Chairman of the Ghana Table Tennis Association
(GTTA) who revealed this to the GNA Sports in an interview
on Tuesday said at least six players will be taking part in
the three month programme.
He said the GTTA has forwarded the request to the National
Sports Council (NSC), which has given the programme its full
backing, adding that discussions are ongoing with some
stakeholders to finance the tour.
Bartels said the six-man team will be attached to clubs,
academies and even national teams and would be expected to
participate in series of tournaments and friendly matches to
sharpen their skills.
He said it is expected that this will put the players in the
best of conditions for the Games in Algeria.
On the criteria for selection of
players for the tour, Bartels said the GTTA will this
Saturday commence a national justifier-your-inclusion
exercise within the next two months after which players with
the highest number of points build-up will be selected for
the trip.
Bartels said foreign-based players who will wish to
participate in the tour must fly down to engage their local
colleagues in a justifier to merit a place in the team.
The Chairman said every single slot in the team is to be
competed for, since there is no automatic place for any
player, be he foreign or local based.
He, however, stated that the foreign-based players must fund
their trip to Ghana for the justifier for their airfares to
be refunded on conditions that they qualify for the main
event.
When asked why Ghana is not participating in the World
Championships in Croatia this May, Bartels said the
competition is an individual event, hence it will be unwise
for the nation to compete since “our chances of winning
medals are slim taking into consideration the ranking of
Ghanaian players”.
Bartels said they would have participated in the competition
if it was a group event, adding that the Association
envisages more prospects in the training tour as compared to
the championship.
The Chairman said the All Africa Games has seven medals at
stake and it will be prudent to concentrate on activities
that will enhance their chances of winning medals at the
Pan-African event.
Ghana at the last All Africa Games in Abuja, Nigeria won
only a bronze medal.
GNA
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